Film Education -

Position and Framing

How the camera is positioned in relation to the subject or action. Framing is the process of deciding what will be seen within the frame.

Long shots: used to show background and establish space and setting.

Mid shots: used to show the torso and some background. Often used in scenes of conversation.

Close-ups: show the head and shoulders, and allows the audience to engage emotionally with a character. Used to convey expression or draw attention to an object.

Point-of-view: the camera allows us to adopt a character’s viewpoint (see what they are seeing) and thus sympathise with their perspective of events.

Establishing shots: often the first shot you see in a film or a new scene. These are often long shots or wide-angled to establish to the audience the location and setting.

Aerial shots: are extreme high angle shots often filmed from a helicopter or a crane. These not only establish the location and surroundings but can also give the effect of the character being small and vulnerable.

Movement

The camera’s movement can be used to follow the action or convey a mood or viewpoint.

Panning: the camera moves slowly across from side to side on a fixed axis.

Tracking shots: when the camera follows the action, moving along tracks laid for that purpose, often pulling backwards from a scene.

Tilt shots: the camera moves up and down from a fixed axis.

Crane shots: the camera, mounted on a crane, moves around at a distance above ground level.

Hand-held: the camera is not positioned on a tripod or a fixed axis. The ‘shaky’ nature of this is often used to suggest greater authenticity, or to convey realism.

Angle

Low angle: when the camera is anywhere below the eye line and is positioned pointing upwards. This is commonly used to convey a sense of inferiority from the camera’s perspective, making the subject appear more powerful.

High angle: when the camera is positioned above the eye line and is pointing downwards at the subject. In contrast, this gives a superior perspective with the subject seeming smaller or less powerful.

Canted angle: where the camera is positioned so it is not level with the horizon. Canted shots are used to create an effect of uneasiness with the viewers and to also allow the tension to build.